Clamping screw or plug through-wall connection, a wedge-shaped fixation

ABSTRACT

A clamp/plug connector for through-wall connection includes a clamp housing of an insulating material. A locking element is provided for attaching the clamp housing to a wall. A pivotable actuation wedge is connected as a single piece to the locking element.

The present invention relates to a clamp for through-wall connection ora plug connector for through-wall connection having a locking elementfor attaching the clamp housing, which is made of insulating material,to a device or housing wall.

In clamps or plug connectors for through-wall connection in a one-pieceembodiment, it is known that these are inserted up to a fixed stop ontheir housing, which is made of insulating material, into a housing wallopening and the wall thickness of the housing wall is then clamped onthe housing wall rear, using a wedge, a screw, or a spreading component,between the fixed stop and the wedge or the screw.

It is known from DE 36 13 681 C1 that, in particular in a two-partinsulating material housing, an external part may have an internal partpushed into it in such a way that the two housing halves may clamp asheet metal wall of a device front, which is provided with a throughopening, between them, the external part and the internal part havingelements which may engage with one another, so that a sturdy connectionarises between the two housing halves and the through clamp becomes afixed clamp housing. This fixed through clamp, which is particularlysufficient for individual connections, is not sufficient for the rougherplug connector connection having high plugging and pulling forces aswell as jerky tilting and removal motions.

A through-wall clamp made of a disk-shaped insulating material body forelectrical conductors, which also has a stop for applying the throughclamp to the wall passage to position the through-wall clamp, the devicewall having a springy U-shaped catch strap having two springy,pre-tensioned catch legs, which receives a housing wall between a stopon a clamp and the U-shaped catch strap, which may be pushed on as anadditional part, is known from DE 198 01 260 A1. Since this clamp is aclamp for through-wall connection for individual connections ofelectrical conductors, when actuating the conductor contact means, onlyslight forces act on the attachment point of the clamp for through-wallconnection even in the cutout of the wall through opening. This clampfor through-wall connection having its attachment does not havesufficient connection stability for a plug connector having highplugging and pulling forces and for the back-and-forth movementsfrequently used in handling by a tool or by a plug when removing orplugging in the tool or a plug connector, so that in this case as well,in the event of rough handling, both the clamp connection of the PEconnector and also the additional clamping using the clamping strap donot ensure sufficient attachment of the clamp for through-wallconnection.

The present invention is based on the object of developing the clamps orplug connectors for through-wall connection known from the related artin regard to the attachment to a housing wall in such a way as to savespace and components. The clamp/plug connector for through-wallconnection is to be mounted or dismounted as rapidly and easily aspossible without screws, rivets, or the like, the insertion andattachment of the entire clamp for through-wall connection being madepossible from one wall side of the device. The cutout tolerances of thewall passage opening and also the wall thickness of the housing ordevice wall itself are not have any influence on the interference fit ofthe through clamp and/or the through plug connector. In particular,according to the object, additional screw holes or threaded holes in thehousing wall are to be dispensed with, whose individual parts, such asscrews, rivets, and other included attachment parts for the interferencefit of the clamp or plug connector for through-wall connection may thusadvantageously be dispensed with. The one-piece clamp/plug connector forthrough-wall connection provided for the object is to have a goodinterference fit in the housing wall opening not only for the action ofan actuation tool for connecting an electrical conductor or against theplugging or pulling forces of a plug, but rather also clamp/plugconnectors for through-wall connection which are made of arbitrarilymany disk-shaped assembled insulating material housings are to have asecure interference fit in the through opening of the housing wall.

In an embodiment variation for connection of plug connectors on bothsides in particular, this attachment is to be significantly improved inrelation to the related art, because a significant load acts on theattachment elements through plugging and pulling forces. This type ofattachment is to have nearly the same attachment effect as a screwconnection because of this.

The object is achieved according to the present invention by thefeatures listed in claim 1.

The achievement of the object allows secure attachment of a one-piececlamp/plug connector for through-wall connection, or a clamp/plugconnector for through-wall connection preferably conceived in diskconstruction, having extremely solid seating in the housing wall with aspecial design of the attachment means. The attachment provided forone-piece connection housings has an advantageous effect for a row ofdisk-shaped connection housings if these are engaged with one anotherinto a block from a freely selectable number of disk-shaped singlehousings. For this purpose, the attachment means are engaged as acomponent to the outer insulation material housings of the block orplugged on via a dovetail guides and thus solidly connected before thewall mounting.

The attachment means are shaped in this case so that they are conceivedas a springy, narrow catch means and are attached laterally to thenarrow side of a clamp or plug connector for through-wall connection.The U-shape provided allows precisely fitted plugging in of theresulting connection block. When the clamp or plug connector forthrough-wall connection is plugged into the opening of a device orhousing wall, this movement is only allowed up to a stop on the clampand/or plug connector housing.

The extremely effective attachment is achieved by a wedge lock accordingto the present invention. This is provided on both sides of theone-piece or disk-shaped connection housing block. The constructivedesign of the locking element offers the possibility in particular ofmounting the clamp or plug connector for through-wall connection fromone side of the device or housing wall. For this purpose, the lockingelement is implemented as a U-shaped strap. The external dimensions ofthe clamping legs of the strap, which spring outward, are dimensioned sothat there is a slight excess dimension in relation to the height of thewall cutout. When this U-shaped strap is plugged through, it is pressedthrough the edges of the opening, so that a slight clamping arises evenin the plugged-in state. This is advantageous because tolerancevariations of the through opening may thus be compensated for. For theprecise positioning of the strap, an inner curve is provided on itsouter side toward the edge of the through opening, into which an edge ofthe housing wall may snap because of the U-shaped strap, which bendselastically outward. This snapping of the attachment element issupported according to the present invention by a wedge-shaped pivotelement, which is connected in one piece to the U-shaped support strapvia a narrow connection web 21 of the legs of the U-shaped supportstrap. The wedge-shaped pivot element may be moved back-and-forthelastically around this narrow connection web, the pivot element beingdimensioned in such a way that upon pivoting of the wedge-shaped pivotelement, the free end of the wedge clamps the second strap end on theinner side of the housing opening. For this purpose, the contact surfaceof the pivot element toward the bottom side of one leg of the U-shapedstrap is dimensioned in such a way that with increasing pivot angle, theclamp between the contact surfaces is increased. With increasing pivotangle, the pivot element acts, through its one-piece connection to thefirst leg of the U-shaped support strap, like a wedge between thecontact legs and presses them outward against the inner edge of the wallopening.

In order that this wedge effect does not come loose automatically incase of use due to the wedge automatically pivoting back in the event ofvibrations or other influences, slip safeties are provided on itscontact surface and on the interior of the support strap whichcounteract automatic detachment. The embodiment of the locking wedgeallows rapid mounting without tools, the wedge being able to be pressedto catch audibly between the legs of the support strap using thefingers. To remove the wedge when the clamp or plug connector forthrough-wall connection is removed, because of the interference fit ofthis wedge, an insertion opening for a screwdriver blade is provided.Depending on how solidly this wedge element is pressed between the legsof the support strap, a light or solid seating of the strap andtherefore of the entire clamp/plug connector for through-wall connectionmay thus be achieved.

In the following, the present invention will be described on the basisof an exemplary embodiment and the figures associated therewith.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

-   1. clamp or plug connector for through-wall connection-   2. housing or device wall-   3. disk-shaped connection element-   4. terminal element for connection element having catch means-   5. support strap-   6. second leg of the support strap-   7. first leg of the support strap-   8. upper external recess on the support strap-   9. lower external recess on the support strap-   10. stop in the insertion direction on the connection element-   11. screwdriver blade-   12. insertion opening for screwdriver blade-   13. wedge contact surface having slip safety-   14. clamp leg inner face having slip safety-   15. first clamping part on support strap-   16. second clamping part on support strap-   17. support web-   18. actuating wedge-   19. upper inner edge of the through opening-   20. lower inner edge of the through opening

OVERVIEW OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary arrangement in a clamp/plug connector forthrough-wall connection in a perspective view, which was assembled fromdisk-shaped connection housings.

FIG. 2 shows a locking element in the open state.

FIG. 3 shows a locking element in the clamped position.

As an example, FIG. 1 illustrates the arrangement of a clamp/plugconnector for through-wall connection 1, comprising disk-shapedconnection elements 3, the disk-shaped connection elements 3 each havingconnection points in different designs for electrical conductors usingspring force or screw technology, for example. These disk-shapedconnection elements 3 are attached to one another using catch means ordovetail guides in this case, so that they are held together to form asolid connection block. The number of the connection elements 3 mayadvantageously be selected freely here according to the application.This clamp/plug connector for through-wall connection 1 is, in apreparation for insertion into a through opening of a device or housingwall 2, whose dimensions are predefined, provided laterally with alocking element 5, which advantageously produces a solid connection tothe clamp/plug connector for through-wall connection by engagement usingknown catch means or by plugging in using known dovetail guides. For aninterference fit of the clamp/plug connector for through-wall connection1, an arrangement on both sides as shown in FIG. 1 is necessary. Inorder that, upon the attachment of the locking element 5, catch means ofthe last disk-shaped connection element 3 projecting on one side of theclamp/plug connector for through-wall connection 1 in disk-shapedconstruction do not interfere, a terminal element 4 is engaged, which inturn has any arbitrary known catch or plug means for a solid connectionbetween the locking element 5 and the clamp/plug connector forthrough-wall connection 1. In this case, the catch or plug means arepositioned in such a way that the locking element 5 may only be attachedin one alignment to the clamp/plug connector for through-wall connection1. This clamp/plug connector for through-wall connection 1 thuscompleted is subsequently inserted into the opening of the housing ordevice wall 2. For this purpose, the clamp/plug connector 1 forthrough-wall connection has height dimensions smaller than the height ofthe through opening. In order that the clamp/plug connector forthrough-wall connection 1 may assume a predefined position in relationto the wall passage, a stop 10 is provided in the insertion direction onthe individual disk-shaped connection elements 3, which prevents theclamp/plug connector for through-wall connection 1 from being insertedcompletely through.

The locking element 5 is implemented as essentially U-shaped as shown inFIG. 2, the particular legs 6, 7 of the engaged locking element 5 stillprojecting through the opening of the housing or device wall 2 in thestop position of the clamp/plug connector for through-wall connection 1.The installer may determine the correct final position of the clamp/plugconnector for through-wall connection 1 in that the locking elements 5snap behind the housing or device wall 2 shortly before the finalposition, which is predefined by the stop 10. For this purpose,undercuts 8, 9 are provided on the edges 19, 20 of the side of the legs6, 7 facing toward the wall opening, which allow the legs 6, 7, whichare pressed together in the insertion procedure, to expand. Because ofthe clamp parts 14, 15 projecting into the wall passage region, whichare formed from the end pieces of the legs 6, 7, support of the legs 6,7 of the support strap of the locking element 5 is ensured.

The locking element 5 has a wedge-shaped actuating part 18 between itslegs 6, 7. This is connected to the clamp legs 7 via a flexibleconnection web 17. The actuating part 18 may be actuated easily in the Xdirection through thumb pressure. To open the wedge connection in the Ydirection, the actuating part 18 has an insertion opening 12 for anactuating tool, a screwdriver blade 11 being advantageous for thispurpose. Therefore, the actuating wedge 18 may be moved out of theclamped position between the first leg 6 and second leg 7 of the supportstrap of the locking element 5 via its flexible support web 16. In thiscase, the side of the wedge-shaped actuating part 17 facing toward thesecond clamp part 15 is constructed in such a way that as the actuatingpart 18 pivots increasingly, its contact surface 13 approaches the backof the clamp part 15 having its contact surface 14 and this contactsurface enters a press fit with the counter contact surface in itspivoted final position. In this case, the actuating part 18 is supportedvia the flexible support web 17 on the first leg 7. In order that thewedge connection does not detach automatically by pivoting back, ribsaligned transversely to the actuating direction are provided on thecontacting surfaces 13 of the actuating part 18 and the correspondingclamp part surface 14 of the clamp part 15, for example, which mutuallyengage.

A pivot position of the actuating part 18 is shown in FIG. 3, in whichthe contacting surfaces 13 and 14 are engaged. The actuating part 18 isthus clamped between the leg 7 having the support web 17 and the firstclamp part 15, the surfaces 13, 14 facing toward one another pressingagainst one another. The actuating part 18 is driven in this case like awedge into the free space between the first and second legs 6, 7 of thesupport strap of the locking element 5, which are supported via theclamp part 15, 16 on the inner edge of the wall opening. When theclamp/plug connector for through-wall connection 1 is removed, theactuating part 18 is pivoted out of the U-shaped support strap of thelocking element 5 with the aid of an actuating tool 11, the transverseteeth on the surfaces 13, 14 facing toward one another being overcomebecause of the press fit. By pressing together the clamp parts 15, 16projecting through the wall opening, the clamp for through-wallconnection 1 may be removed.

(3 figures attached)

1-10. (canceled)
 11. A clamp/plug connector for through-wall connection,comprising: a clamp housing including an insulating material; a lockingelement for attaching the clamp housing to a wall; and a pivotableactuation wedge connected as a single piece to the locking element. 12.The clamp/plug connector as recited in claim 11 wherein the lockingelement includes first and second clamp parts configured to respectivelyengage upper and lower inner edges of a through opening of the wall. 13.The clamp/plug connector as recited in claim 12 wherein the clamp partsare configured to project through the wall.
 14. The clamp/plug connectoras recited in claim 11 wherein the locking element is connected as asingle piece to the wall using injection molding.
 15. The clamp/plugconnector as recited in claim 12 wherein the locking element isconnected as a single piece to the wall using injection molding.
 16. Theclamp/plug connector as recited in claim 13 wherein the locking elementis connected as a single piece to the wall using injection molding. 17.The clamp/plug connector as recited in claim 11 wherein the lockingelement is attached to the wall using at least one of a catch and adovetailed joint.
 18. The clamp/plug connector as recited in claim 12wherein the locking element is attached to the wall using at least oneof a catch and a dovetailed joint.
 19. The clamp/plug connector asrecited in claim 13 wherein the locking element is attached to the wallusing at least one of a catch and a dovetailed joint.
 20. The clamp/plugconnector as recited in claim 14 wherein the locking element is attachedto the wall using at least one of a catch and a dovetailed joint. 21.The clamp/plug connector as recited in claim 11 wherein the clamphousing includes a plurality of disk-shaped contact housings attached toone another, and further comprising a terminating attachment plate. 22.The clamp/plug connector as recited in claim 12 wherein the clamphousing includes a plurality of disk-shaped contact housings attached toone another, and further comprising a terminating attachment plate. 23.The clamp/plug connector as recited in claim 11 wherein the lockingelement includes a flexible connection web disposed on a clamp leg, theactuation wedge being connected to the clamp leg via the flexibleconnection web.
 24. The clamp/plug connector as recited in claim 11wherein: the locking element includes a clamp part configured to engagean inner edge of a through opening of the wall, and a first surface ofthe actuation wedge and a second surface of a side of the clamp partfacing the actuation wedge each include a respective slip safety device.25. The clamp/plug connector as recited in claim 24 wherein each of therespective slip safety devices includes respective teeth.
 26. Theclamp/plug connector as recited in claim 11 wherein the actuation wedgeincludes an insertion opening configured to receive an actuation tool.27. The clamp/plug connector as recited in claim 11 wherein the lockingelement includes a first and second flexible clamp legs elasticallymovable toward each other so as to automatically engage an opening ofthe wall upon an insertion of the clamp/plug connector in the opening.28. The clamp/plug connector as recited in claim 12 wherein the lockingelement includes a first and second flexible clamp legs elasticallymovable toward each other so as to automatically engage an opening ofthe wall upon an insertion of the clamp/plug connector in the opening.29. The clamp/plug connector as recited in claim 11 wherein the wall isa wall of a device or housing.